Brody Lab - Hegeman 107 While many physics undergraduates focus on academic or research careers, diverse opportunities exist within industry. I will discuss some common non-academic careers for physicists, essential skills (eg programming, data analysis), and practical advice for job searching, including insights from my own transition from academia to industry. A comparison of academic and industrial careers will be presented, along with examples of how core physics principles are applied in real-world settings. This talk aims to equip physics undergraduates with the knowledge to explore and pursue successful industrial careers.Sponsored by: Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Adventures in Science Writing: Editing the American Journal of Physics
A talk by Beth Parks, Colgate University
Friday, April 11, 2025 12 pm
Brody Lab - Hegeman 107 Editing the American Journal of Physics for the past 5 years has taught me more than I could have imagined about physics, writing, and publishing. I’ll share some of those lessons in this talk.Sponsored by: Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Sensational Fungi: From Vision to Taste, how Fungi use Sensory Systems to Navigate the World
A talk by Andrew Swafford, Middlebury College
Friday, April 11, 2025 12 pm
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium What do you and fungi have in common?
This talk focuses on how organisms perceive and adapt to their environment through the evolution of sensory systems like vision. In this seminar, we will explore the surprising sensory systems of early diverging fungi, the similarity of fungal and animal eyes, and the consequences of sensory system evolution on the global spread of the frog-killing pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Lastly, we will take a sneak peek into the future of sensory research in fungi led by students at Middlebury.Sponsored by: Biology Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium Trust is a multifaceted concept that is a necessary component in most of our interactions, whether they be social, team-based, or goal oriented in nature. As robots enter our world, we need to understand what it means to trust a robot and what factors and situations have an impact on human-robot trust. This talk will introduce an overview of trust before discussing two types of trust that can be used to categorize the way human-robot interaction researchers define, investigate, and measure trust. The speaker will also present a study that looks at whether and how trust in robots transfers between environments.Sponsored by: Psychology Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Making it Click: An Approach to N-Heterocycles and Inclusive Excellence
A talk by Dr. André Isaacs, Associate Professor of Chemistry, The College of the Holy Cross
Friday, April 18, 2025 1:10 pm
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium Dr. Isaacs's research is centered on a very reliable organic reaction: the copper-catalyzed cycloaddition of sulfonyl azides and terminal alkynes (CuAAC) commonly known as ‘click chemistry’. This fragmentation creates reactive intermediates which can be intercepted to synthesize nitrogen heterocycles, important structural components in a majority of pharmaceutical drugs. This seminar will also discuss strategies that capitalize on the learning styles and culture of the younger generation to broaden participation in STEM.Sponsored by: Chemistry Program; Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Disability as a Social Identity Protects Against Ableism
A talk by Dr. Kathleen Bogart, Oregon State University
Thursday, April 24, 2025 4 pm
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium The largest minority group in the United States, disability, is often overlooked in prejudice research. As with other socially constructed minorities, it is valuable to examine disability through a social identity lens. Recent research shows that experiencing ableism may prompt development of disability pride, which in turn protects self-esteem. Thus, we might resist ableism by fostering disability pride and increasing representation of the social model of disability.
This lecture is made possible through the generous support of the Andrew J. Bernstein Foundation. It is free and open to the public. Sponsored by: The Andrew J. Bernstein Foundation and Psychology Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Detecting Gravitational-waves: From Instrumentation to Compact Binaries
A talk by Georgia Mansell, Syracuse University
Friday, April 25, 2025 12 pm
Brody Lab - Hegeman 107 The advanced LIGO (laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory) detectors are currently in their fourth observing run, with greater sensitivity to gravitational waves than ever before, able to detect binary neutron star inspirals out to over 165 Mpc. In this talk, I will explain some of the technologies which enable gravitational-wave detection, including squeezed light, laser stabilization, and quadruple suspensions. I will also talk about the gravitational-wave instrumentation projects going on at Syracuse University, including an electrostatic violin mode damper for suspended optics.Sponsored by: Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Data-Driven Civic Engagement: Statistics for Community Needs
Dr. Polina Dolmatova, AUCA
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5 pm
RKC 111 This talk will explore how data, statistics, and storytelling can be used to drive civic engagement and address community needs, drawing from a multi-year teaching and research experience at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). Through courses such as The Theory of Probabilities and Mathematical Statistics, Data Science, and Storytelling with Statistics, students engaged in semester-long projects tackling real-world issues – from analyzing education equity and climate data to evaluating sustainability efforts and effectiveness of AUCA offices in collaboration with community partners. Emphasizing experiential learning, inquiry-based research, and ethical data use, the talk will highlight how student projects have resulted in actionable insights, publications, and even national-level impact through a faculty-student research initiative (CEDCAS) in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development. The session will reflect on the outcomes, challenges, and future opportunities of using data-driven storytelling as a tool for civic awareness and addressing community needs.
My name is Polina Dolmatova.I am an Associate Professor of the Applied Mathematics and Informatics Department at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. Since 2009 I have been working at AUCA and teaching various mathematical courses for undergraduate and graduate students. In 2014, I got the Ph.D. in Technical Sciences. I have 24 publications, including the study book "Theoretical and practical advices to problem solving in mathematical statistics".I am a contributing author in Hogg's Intro to Mathematical Statistics, 8th Edition (2019), Pearson and Ross’s A First Course in Probability, 10th Edition (2023), Pearson. I regularly participate in conferences and professional development workshops. In 2023 - 24, in collaboration with professors and students of AUCA we created the Open Educational Resource - OSUN video and written case study "The Journey of Kaiyrkul; Civic Engagement for Education Equity in Kyrgyzstan: the Republican Olympiad on Mathematics". For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Brody Lab - Hegeman 107 While many physics undergraduates focus on academic or research careers, diverse opportunities exist within industry. I will discuss some common non-academic careers for physicists, essential skills (eg programming, data analysis), and practical advice for job searching, including insights from my own transition from academia to industry. A comparison of academic and industrial careers will be presented, along with examples of how core physics principles are applied in real-world settings. This talk aims to equip physics undergraduates with the knowledge to explore and pursue successful industrial careers.Sponsored by: Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Adventures in Science Writing: Editing the American Journal of Physics
A talk by Beth Parks, Colgate University
Friday, April 11, 2025 12 pm
Brody Lab - Hegeman 107 Editing the American Journal of Physics for the past 5 years has taught me more than I could have imagined about physics, writing, and publishing. I’ll share some of those lessons in this talk.Sponsored by: Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Sensational Fungi: From Vision to Taste, how Fungi use Sensory Systems to Navigate the World
A talk by Andrew Swafford, Middlebury College
Friday, April 11, 2025 12 pm
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium What do you and fungi have in common?
This talk focuses on how organisms perceive and adapt to their environment through the evolution of sensory systems like vision. In this seminar, we will explore the surprising sensory systems of early diverging fungi, the similarity of fungal and animal eyes, and the consequences of sensory system evolution on the global spread of the frog-killing pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Lastly, we will take a sneak peek into the future of sensory research in fungi led by students at Middlebury.Sponsored by: Biology Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium Trust is a multifaceted concept that is a necessary component in most of our interactions, whether they be social, team-based, or goal oriented in nature. As robots enter our world, we need to understand what it means to trust a robot and what factors and situations have an impact on human-robot trust. This talk will introduce an overview of trust before discussing two types of trust that can be used to categorize the way human-robot interaction researchers define, investigate, and measure trust. The speaker will also present a study that looks at whether and how trust in robots transfers between environments.Sponsored by: Psychology Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Making it Click: An Approach to N-Heterocycles and Inclusive Excellence
A talk by Dr. André Isaacs, Associate Professor of Chemistry, The College of the Holy Cross
Friday, April 18, 2025 1:10 pm
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium Dr. Isaacs's research is centered on a very reliable organic reaction: the copper-catalyzed cycloaddition of sulfonyl azides and terminal alkynes (CuAAC) commonly known as ‘click chemistry’. This fragmentation creates reactive intermediates which can be intercepted to synthesize nitrogen heterocycles, important structural components in a majority of pharmaceutical drugs. This seminar will also discuss strategies that capitalize on the learning styles and culture of the younger generation to broaden participation in STEM.Sponsored by: Chemistry Program; Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Disability as a Social Identity Protects Against Ableism
A talk by Dr. Kathleen Bogart, Oregon State University
Thursday, April 24, 2025 4 pm
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium The largest minority group in the United States, disability, is often overlooked in prejudice research. As with other socially constructed minorities, it is valuable to examine disability through a social identity lens. Recent research shows that experiencing ableism may prompt development of disability pride, which in turn protects self-esteem. Thus, we might resist ableism by fostering disability pride and increasing representation of the social model of disability.
This lecture is made possible through the generous support of the Andrew J. Bernstein Foundation. It is free and open to the public. Sponsored by: The Andrew J. Bernstein Foundation and Psychology Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Detecting Gravitational-waves: From Instrumentation to Compact Binaries
A talk by Georgia Mansell, Syracuse University
Friday, April 25, 2025 12 pm
Brody Lab - Hegeman 107 The advanced LIGO (laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory) detectors are currently in their fourth observing run, with greater sensitivity to gravitational waves than ever before, able to detect binary neutron star inspirals out to over 165 Mpc. In this talk, I will explain some of the technologies which enable gravitational-wave detection, including squeezed light, laser stabilization, and quadruple suspensions. I will also talk about the gravitational-wave instrumentation projects going on at Syracuse University, including an electrostatic violin mode damper for suspended optics.Sponsored by: Physics Program.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Data-Driven Civic Engagement: Statistics for Community Needs
Dr. Polina Dolmatova, AUCA
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 5 pm
RKC 111 This talk will explore how data, statistics, and storytelling can be used to drive civic engagement and address community needs, drawing from a multi-year teaching and research experience at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). Through courses such as The Theory of Probabilities and Mathematical Statistics, Data Science, and Storytelling with Statistics, students engaged in semester-long projects tackling real-world issues – from analyzing education equity and climate data to evaluating sustainability efforts and effectiveness of AUCA offices in collaboration with community partners. Emphasizing experiential learning, inquiry-based research, and ethical data use, the talk will highlight how student projects have resulted in actionable insights, publications, and even national-level impact through a faculty-student research initiative (CEDCAS) in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development. The session will reflect on the outcomes, challenges, and future opportunities of using data-driven storytelling as a tool for civic awareness and addressing community needs.
My name is Polina Dolmatova.I am an Associate Professor of the Applied Mathematics and Informatics Department at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. Since 2009 I have been working at AUCA and teaching various mathematical courses for undergraduate and graduate students. In 2014, I got the Ph.D. in Technical Sciences. I have 24 publications, including the study book "Theoretical and practical advices to problem solving in mathematical statistics".I am a contributing author in Hogg's Intro to Mathematical Statistics, 8th Edition (2019), Pearson and Ross’s A First Course in Probability, 10th Edition (2023), Pearson. I regularly participate in conferences and professional development workshops. In 2023 - 24, in collaboration with professors and students of AUCA we created the Open Educational Resource - OSUN video and written case study "The Journey of Kaiyrkul; Civic Engagement for Education Equity in Kyrgyzstan: the Republican Olympiad on Mathematics". For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
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